The city is encouraging residents of South and West Berkeley to sign up for free public workshops on emergency preparedness.

“The workshops are focused on south and west Berkeley because those areas have historically received less emergency preparedness education and supplies,” according to the city’s announcement. “Data showed that much of the emergency preparedness information and resources was going to north Berkeley and to the hills, a particularly small demographic of the population.”

Those who take part in the sessions “will gain leadership skills and will understand the importance of a coordinated community response to disaster.”

Learn more about the Community Preparedness & Engagement Program (CPEP) network at bit.ly/1Rgu1bN. Contact Lincoln Casimere at 510-981-5308 or lcasimere@cityofberkeley.info with any questions or to see about scheduling a workshop.

Transbay bus lines to be focus of meetings

AC Transit is holding a pair of meetings to discuss alternatives for transbay bus lines F and J providing transbay service to San Francisco from Berkeley, Emeryville and north Oakland.

Possible changes on the lines that were part of the agency’s proposed Service Expansion Plan have been delayed due to the number of comments received and the meeting is being held to get additional public feedback.

The first meeting is 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 9 in the Emeryville Town Hall council chamber, 1333 Park Ave.

The second will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at St. Columba Church, 6401 San Pablo Ave. in Oakland.

Reccomendations are expected to go to the AC Transit board this spring.

Anglers group offers free documentary

The Grizzly Peak Fly Fishers will show the award-winning documentary “Return of the River” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Kensington Community Center, 59 Arlington Ave.

“This film follows a group of committed people that changed public opinion about removing an old dam on the Elwha River in Washington, opening many miles of prime watershed for salmon and steelhead,” says the group.

The free program will also feature a speaker from the group American Rivers about efforts to remove obsolete and harmful dams in California. To RSVP or get more details visit www.grizzlypeakflyfishers.org/event-2071970.

Thurmond to discuss education issues

District 15 Assemblyman Tony Thurmond will discuss education issues as the featured speaker at the meeting of the El Cerrito Branch of the NAACP at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at Easter Hill United Methodist Church, 3911 Cutting Blvd. in Richmond.

The free program is open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Thurmond’s district extends from Piedmont in the south to Hercules in the north. He is a former member of the West Contra Costa school board and the Richmond City Council.

Missing woman found in Berkeley

An all-volunteer group spent hours the holiday weekend searching for a missing El Sobrante woman who ultimately was located in Berkeley.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Gladys Gamter, 78, had last been seen at El Cerrito Del Norte BART station at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 3, and was believed to be at risk due to age and medical issues.

Gamter was found that evening at the Mo’ Joe Cafe in the 2500 block of Sacramento Street around 5:15 p.m., Contra Costa Sheriff’s Lt. Tricia England said.

A deputy, one of 30 to 40 deputies who responded to the alert by volunteering to search for the missing woman, drove to the cafe to verify her identity and bring her back home, England said.

Delta issues to be topic of naturalist talk

Friends of Five Creeks hosts a talk by Mike Moran on “Delta Matters” at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 in the parish hall at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Ave. in Albany. Moran is supervising naturalist at the East Bay Regional Park District’s new Big Break Visitor Center on the Delta shoreline in Oakley.

Gray Panthers cancel film fundraiser

A planned movie screening benefit for the Berkeley Gray Panthers on Jan. 24 has been canceled, the group announced.

The event had been scheduled at Berkeley Arts Festival, 2133 University Ave.

‘Bad Kitty on Stage’ at Freight & Salvage

The Bay Area Children’s Theatre will present “Bad Kitty on Stage,” a world premiere opening Jan. 23 at the Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St. The family production is based on the popular comic adventures of Bad Kitty and her quirky animal friends by author and illustrator Nick Bruel. Performances are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekends through Feb. 21.